Logical reasoning PrepTest 129 · Section 3 · Question 25

Incorrect. The new software is only established to be "advertised" as more flexible, so we can't conclude that it actually is. However, even though some employees at the other company continue to use the old software, we can't conclude that it is as flexible as the new software—maybe those employees use it for another reason, such as familiarity, despite it being less flexible.

Incorrect. The Manager uses the fact that employees at other companies continue to use the old software as a reason to reconsider switching to it. However, the familiarity with that software isn't specifically called out as a reason that those employees continue to use it. Additionally, the Manager doesn't say that the switch shouldn't be made, just that completely abandoning it be reconsidered, so we don't know what she believes are more and less important considerations—just considerations. Finally, the stimulus doesn't establish which software actually is flexible or initially easy to use—just that the new software is advertised as such.

Incorrect. The Manager doesn't discuss the capabilities of the software, just the flexibility and ease of use. Even those factors aren't actually compared—the Manager notes that the new software is "advertised" in a certain manner, but that doesn't guarantee it delivers.

Incorrect. There's no indication that some employees wouldn't be able to use the new software. Even at the other companies where some employees continue to use the old software as much as possible, the Manager notes that they "can all use" it.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Must Be True

Stimulus Summary:
There's a new software that's supposedly more flexible and easier to use. However, similar companies switched and many of their employees still use the old software, so we should reconsider the switch.

Answer Anticipation:
This stimulus is interesting—it reaches a recommendation based on premises, but it's a Must Be True question. Normally, we'd be asked to Strengthen or Weaken an argument like this, but here, we need to treat all the statements as true and find an answer that's strongly supported by them.

The stimulus features comparisons—between the Manager's company and several other companies; between the old software and the new software. It also discusses the outcome of the switch at the other companies—many continue to use the old software. It's hard to see exactly what inference might show up in the correct answer, so we should head to them as soon as possible so we can focus on the details there to eliminate our way to the correct answer.

Answer Explanation:
Employees at several other companies are noted as still using the old software "as much as possible," thus allowing us to infer that they prefer it to the new software—otherwise, they might still use the old software in certain situations where it might be necessary, but not "as much as possible." Since the Manager uses what's true of other companies to justify something about her company, she must believe that at least a certain cohort—many—would prefer the old software to the new software. Similar to question #23 in this section, definitely not something that Must Be True, but the others all have something wrong with them, and this stem only asks us for something that is "most strongly supported." Since her argument clearly assumes that her company's employees are similar to the ones where the old software is still employed, her statements imply this answer is true.

Key Takeaway:
It's rare that Must Be True questions ask about a stimulus with an argument in it. When that happens, treat all elements of the argument as true and find the answer that aligns with it.